Broom-holder.



F. E. GROSS. BROOM HOLDER. APPLIOKTION FILED MAY 8,

Patented Sept. 5, 1911.

COLUMBIA PMNOORAPH CO wuummon, D. C.

FRANCIS E. GROSS, OF NEW LONDON, CONNECTICUT.

BROOM-HOLDER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed May 8, 1909.

Patented Sept. 5, 1911.

Serial No. 494,767.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANCIS E. CRoss, a citizen of the United States, residing at New London, in the county of New London, State of Connecticut, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Broom- Holders; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to improvements in devices for supporting brooms, mops, and similar articles having long handles, and has for one of its objects to improve the construction and increase the efficiency and utility of devices of this character.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists in certain novel features of construction as hereafter shown and described and then specifically pointed out in the claim, and in the drawings illustrative of the preferred embodiment of the invention, Figure 1 is a front elevation of the improved device with a representation of a broom handle connected therewith and in suspended position. Fig. 2 is a similar view representing the broomhandle being detached. Fig. 3 is a plan view. Fig. l is a perspective view enlarged of the base plate.

The improved device comprises a base plate 10 having means such as screws 11 or other suitable fastening means, for securing the same to a permanent structure, such as a wall indicated at 12. The plate 10 is provided with a divided projecting rib 13 and with an aperture 1d centrally of the rib. The terminals 1516 of the divided rib are spaced apart equidistant above and below the horizontal axis of the plate 10, and form spaced stop devices as hereafter explained. Bearing over the divided rib 13 is a plate 17 having a central projection 18 extending into the space within the rib, and secured in place by a bolt or pin 19, the latter extending through the aperture 14: of the base plate Mounted to swing upon the bolt 19 within the cavity formed by the rib 13, and between the projection 18 and the body of the plate, is a downwardly curving arm 20, and projecting from the arm are integral grip bars 2122, the inner edges of the distance than the handle which is to be supported, the handle being indicated at 23, so that when the arm 20 is elevated into its upper position, as shown in Fig. 2, the handle when supported in a vertical position will not be engaged by the grip bars, but when the arm 20 is located in its downward position as shown in Fig. 1, the handle will be engaged from opposite sides by the grip bars, and firmly held in position, as will be obvious.

With a device thus constructed when a handle is to be inserted the operator turns the handle at a slight inclination from the perpendicular and passes it between the arms 2122 when the latter are in their downward position, and then permits the handle to assume its vertical position and at the same time moves it slightly upward. In placing the handle in its vertical position it is caused to engage the inner knife-edges of the bars 21--22 and then the upward movement carries the arm 20 upwardly, and then when the'handle is released its weight draws the arm 20 and its bars downwardly and causes them to grip the handle as shown in Fig. 1. The operation is thus very simple and requires no previous skill or knowledge, and does not require that the device shall be touched by the hands of the operator, but all of the operation will be performed by properly manipulating the handle.

The parts of the device are all constructed from metal, and may be of cast or malleable iron or steel, as required. The device can be inexpensively manufactured and applied in any required locality, or readily moved from place to place as required.

What is claimed is A tool holder comprising a base member adapted to be attached to a vertical support and provided with a socket opening outwardly and on one side, a pin connected to said base member and extending through said socket, a swinging arm pivoted at one end on said pin and extending through the opening in the side of the socket, the edges of said opening forming stops to limit the movement of the arms, a pair of laterally projecting fingers having cutting edges arranged one adjacent the outer end the other adj aeent the intermediate portion of said swinging arm, whereby said tool handle may arm for engaging opposite sides of a tool be maintained in an upright position. handle, the cutting edges of said fingers In testimony whereof, I afiix my signabeing turned toward each other for peneture, in presence of two witnesses.

trating said tool handle, the edge of the FRANCIS E. CROSS. socket being disposed so that the fingers will Witnesses: be out of horizontal alinement when said FRANK HOWARD, edge stops the downward movement of said LYDIA BECKWITH.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by 'addre'ssing the Commissioner of Patents,

. Washington, D. 0. 

